Doffing mechanism for spinning, twisting, and like machines



Dec. 18, 1928.

J. P. MA-cKIE DOFFING MECHANISM FOR srnmme, TWISTING, AND LIKE mcnmias Filed April 50, 1927' 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 18, 1928. 1,695,659 J. P. MACKIE DOFFING' MECHANISM FOR SPINNING, TWISTING, AND LIKE MACHINES Filed April 30, 1927 5 Sheets-Shet' 2 A 7' TOR/V571 Dec. 18, 1928. 1,695,659

' J. P. MACKIE DQFFING MECHANISM FOR SPINNING, TWISTING, AND LIKE MACHINES Filed April 30, 1927 :s Sheets-Sheet 3 jaw. ma

Patented Dec. 18, 1928;

, UNITED ,STAYTFES PATENT omen.

JOHN 'PRINGLE MACKIE, comma-m KNOWN as 'JA-eKsr, Mitosis,

on BELFAST, 1mi- LAND, ASSIGN'OR T6 JAMES, meoxm ANn'sons, LITIHTED, on BELFAST, IRE AND, A f 1 mmsn ommy. a

IDO-FIFING MECHANISM Ton SPINNING; lmwmsmmo, nan) .LIKEIMAGHINES.

Application filed April 30, f1e27', sefia1 m.

This invention relates to" doifing motions for spinning, twisting, ilike machines,

and more particularly it is concerned with mechanism ofthe class in which bobbins: are supported on spindles projecting ng wards from interchangeable bobbin rails-which are a-i'i anged to bemoved so as to bring a series of empty bobbins into their spinning positions withinthe .fiyers, and when the bobbins have been filled are moved to carry these bobbins to a posit-ion in which do Iiin-g is fiaciili tated and in which a bobbin rail carrying I emptybobbins can be brought into a conven depending upon whether tbeianns :a 'e ipiv ient position {t enable them to replace those in the fiyers with as little delay as possible when those-in the flyershavebeen filled' It is the main object of the present inven} tion to improve the mechanism forefl ecting the movement of the bobbin rails from one position to another; while facilitating the actual :dofling, ands/t the same time to enable the mechanism to carry out function in such a way that itneed RQ'hPIWOJUiSGt beyond the line of fflyaems when in operation,-v and conseqnen-tly,-does not-obstrnctthe attendants looking after the frames According to the pmesent invention, a defiing motion is con-stI'ncted with medaanism for zposi- :and for moving the empty bobbins into moving the filled bobbins to the 'doflin'g tion the DOSitl0n in'w'hi-ch they may be engaged by the lifter mechanism comprising a rocking frame including swinging arms monmtied shafts, one or both of which maybe actuated by suitable mechanism, for swinging the frame into the various positions required during the transfer andoperations; The bobbin rail-s are supported on this frame and are moved by it from the forwamd to the rearward positiom vice verse. Thus, apart from the vertical movements 'iior raising the bobbins initothe :flyiers and lowering them again, theniovement of the bobbin mail is along the .ai c "of a 'circi e, the radius of which depends'upon the lengths iofthe ai'ms cariying the swinging fi'arne The cin'voitnne of this path may be npvvards ordownwands' oted .at points aboveloribeiow the swinlging frame. The swinging of the. frame may be effected by suitable meohanis1nwas toothed gearing oileversv for actuating one or both shafts about which thesWin-ging'ems are mounted.

mam, end Great Britain m 19, 1926.

"position as this not only'facili tateslthe dofiing of the filled bobbins and the replacing by f ennpt y bobbins, but also Tenders easy the ;process-of winding-on from the full to the empty bobbins. Suitable stops may be provided on one -01 both sets of swinging arms to iiinitthe swinging movement books or spring catches or the like maybe provided {for retaining empty bobb n-mans in and oountelweighted the netnaoted position while the .fna-Ine swings Vtorwardi'eady to receive the descending rail 7 ozf f-ullywound bobbins. v

In order that the invention may becleariy V understood and readily cariiedcinto ef'fiect, one

.torm oi doth-mg mechanism accordance with the invention is llustrated njthej-ao" com panying drawings, in which chine and Figure aside view showingthe mechanism in an intermediate posit-ion ready to receive on the swinging frame the-nail of bobbins which .ane shown as being fiilze'd 5 Figure '3 is a similar view showing the rail :of .fi'l'led bobbins lowered .to the frame;

Figure-A is a similar View showing the frame swung into the forward position;

spinning positionwithin the flyers;

Fi'gune 6 is a similar view showing the F igure 1 is a iirontt View of part of the Figure 5 is :again a similar View shon mg ii'll'l'azll of empty bobbins raise-d JHiO the ly xfilzled and with the filled bobbins neplace'd by empty bobbins, baohwamds to (BIT Ty the empty bobbins "into the reairmost position;

the iirmne having swung F 'guife7i's :a diagram showing the path of the successive movements inthecyc le through I which the bobbin rails pass; 1

Figure *8 is a side view showing a Modified form of (dotting mechanism 1;

" F' azure 9 is a diagram similar to 7 ShOYWifl'g a mo diii'ed' cycle of yiet two fiiitheimodifications.

movement when r the swinging Enamels supported them above; I

In the tormof dofiing motion shown in] Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings the spinning machine has two sets of interchangeable bob- Tails 1, *2, the foioner beingshow-n "in Fig ures '1 and 2 rsniprpo -ting the bobbins'B which the spinning position, and are utmost filled. The rail 2 in Figures 1 and 2 is shown supporting empty bobbins 4 which, in the manner which will appear hereinafter, have been moved into the rear position so that they can take the place of the bobbins 3 and the latter can be easily dotted.

The transfer mechanism is a swinging frame which consists of a pair of horizontal bars 5, one at each end of a bobbin rail, and each pivoted to the upper ends of two swinging arms 6, 7 which at their lower ends are mounted to rock about fixed shafts 8, 9. The bobbin rails 1 and 2 are of such a length that they can extend between the upper bars 5, and, therefore, may be suipported at their ends on the two bars in act, in Figures 1 and 2 the rail is shown so supported. The flyers 10 are supported on the upper part of the main framework 11 of the machine and are driven through a band engaging with pulleys or whorls 12. The lifting mechanism comprises brackets 13 guided onthe standards 14 of the machine in its rising and falling movements. The brackets 13 are given. an up-and-down motion for effectingthe building operation,

this motion being transmitted to it through thechain 15 and sprocket wheel 16 which may have any usual connection to the building cam. The brackets 13 are also capable of an additional motion to a lower level to enable the bobbin rail 1 or 2 to be deposited on to its pair of horizontal bars 5, and to enable an empty bobbin rail to be lifted from the bar 5 upwards into the spinning position.

The two horizontal bars 5 which constitute the supporting platform for the bobbin rails 1, 2 have stops 17 18' at their forward and rearward ends, with a space between them sufiicientto receive a pair of bobbin rails 1, 2. The swinging arms 6, 7 and the bars 5 are operated simultaneously by rotating the shaft 8 or the shaft 9 or both, to which the arms 6, 7 are secured as, for example, by the hand wheel 19, worm 20 and sector 21. The mechanism can be brought into three principal positions :The intermediate position in which the arms 6, 7 are substantially vertical is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3; the forward position is shown in Figures 4 and 5, and the rearward position in Figure 6.

The actual condition of affairs in. the various positions can be most clearly understood by considering the sequence of movements in dofling a rail of filled bobbins and replacing it by arail of empty bobbins. It is convenient to commence from the position shown in Figure 2 where the bobbins 3 are almost filled, and are, therefore, almost ready for doffing. It will be seen that the empty bobbins 4 with the rail 2 are at the rear of the upper bars 5 leaving a space in front of them sufficiently wide toreceive the rail 1 after the bobbins 3 are filled. Moreover, the arms 6, 7 have been turned into the intermediate position wherein the vacant space for the rail 1 lies immediately belowthat rail. The first operation after the bobbins 3 are filled is to lower the brackets 13 until they descend below the level of the upper surface ofthe bars 5." This leaves the rail 1 resting on the two bars 5. This state of affairs is illustrated in Figure 3. Incidentally, as will be explained more fully later, the rear partof the rail 1 by its weight and the weight of the bobbins 3 has depressed the forward end of a hook or catch 22 pivoted 1n the main framework or on suitable brackets '01 supports at 23 and counter-balanced by a position seen in Figure 4. It may be mentioned here that the forward position is defined or limited by a projecting stop or abutment 25 on the two arms 7 coming into contact with a horizontal cross-bar or beam 26 as seen in Figures 4 and 5. The result is that the filled bobbins 3 on their rail 1 are brought to the front of the machine in a position convenient for doffing and the empty bobbins 4 on their rail 2 are brought into a position immediately below the flyers 10, and therefore only need to be raised to 7 take up the spinningposition. In Figure 5 as a matter of fact, the lifter brackets 13 are shown as raised having lifted the bobbins 4 into the spinning position.

As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the arms 6 are shaped with offset portions 27 which in the forward position of the arms 6 rise up and engage the rear part of the bobbin rail 1 tilting that rail and the bobbins 3 upon it slightly forward. This tilting action facilitates the dotting of the machines in this position, and also, as a matter of fact, enables the winding-on operation to the empty bobbins 4 to be easily carried out. i

Now, while spinning goes on and the bobbins 4 are being filled, the filled bobbins 3 are rapidlydoffed and the rail 1 is filled with emptv bobbins in the'forward posit-ion shownin. Figures 4 and 5. The next operation is to swing the armsfi and 7 into the required position by rotating the shaft 8 or 9 and. the position attained is illustrated in Figure 6. The empty bobbins which have replaced the filled bobbins 3011 the rail 1 are thereby moved intoa position to the rear of the spinning position until the catch 22 engages with the rail 1. The segment 21 is brought to rest in the correct position. The mechanism can be left in this position until the bobbins 4 are filled, but preferably the arms 6, 7 are swung in to the intermediate position shown. in Figure 2 and already described. It is here, however, that the purpose of the pivoted catch or book 22 is maniest, for the rail 1 in its rearward moven'ient the hooks 22 being incense hasr'iclden overzthe forward endor nose of the catches 22, temporarily depressing them, but they rise again under the "effect of the weights 24 engagingin front of the rai ll. Thus,"i-n passing from the position shown in Figure 6,"the"arm's 6la-nd '7 moving to the intermediate position, the rail lcainnot move forward with the bars 5, but is retained by lifted slightly as the bars 5 rise, but the bars 5 during this movement slide frictionallyjunder the rail 1 as they are notable to draw. the latter'with them; The conditions are then as shown in Figure 2,

, and the mechanism isx-ready for repeating the cycle. 7 i I It Wlll "be realized that in along spinning, twisting or like mac'hlne, the side may be "divided into several sections of bobbin rails,

eachsection of rail havin'g a pair of hori- 1 zontal bars 5, and arms 6 and? and counter a weighted catches or hookssuch as'22. By this *jecting guides are'required for which would extend beyond the front of the construction no fixed or permanently prothe doiiing machine, ai 'dth-us impede the attendants in their work of dofling and operating the mechanism. The'swingin'g arms 6, 7 are only moved forward to bring filled bobbins into the dofiing position, andxalmost immediately moved back again out of the way as soon as the filled bobbins have been replaced by empty ones.

, most has the shape of a c rcular arc. The further In Figure 7, a diagram is shown illustrating the sequence of movements of the bobbins commencing in the position shown in F i ure 2. The descent of the filled bobbins is illustrated by the arrow a, and their forward movement into the dofling position is illustrated by the arrow 6. At this forward point, they are replaced by empty bobbins,

, and the path of movement of the empty bob bins from the foremost position to the rearposition 88 illustrated by the arrow 0 movement of the empty bobbins into the intermediate position below the flyers is illustrated by the curved arrow d, and finally-the lifting movement into the filling position is I illustrated by the vertical arrow 6. The

curvature of the arrows b, c, d, is, of course,

' due to the radii of the movements about the corresponding reference letters have been applied to the arrows. The remaining parts of the mechanism in Figure 8' bear the same reference numerals as in the preceding fig {7 pivoted above the bars 5 ward curvature. 1

4:. 'A doffing motion for spinning, twlstlng and like machines, comprislng 1n combma- I, 1

uros and need not be described again in as? In this latter case, a'ithough not shown in Figure 8, the 'bobbinsmay be tilted for- Wardly in the dofiin-g on the rear pair of arms 7? the rear endo'f the filled'bdbbinrail' Tin a position by p'roj cot-ions engaging under manner similar to that sl'iown for the projections 27 in Figures 4 and 5.

In a further aiternativexas shown in ure 10, the front of'therbars 5 are carried by arms 6* pivoted above? the arms 5 :1tth'e points "8", and the rear of the bars 5? are carrled by arms 7* pivoted at 9 below the bars 5 'In-yet a further modification shown in Figure 11, th1s arrangement is inverted, 1n

the sense that the bars 5 are carried at the front by. arms '6 pivoted below the bars 5 and 8,and at therear are carried by.-arms at the polnts 9. In Figures 10 and 11., the

rails carrying 1 the filled bobbins are illustrated at l- 'and'l fi Any conven ent mechanism may be prov vided for rocking the arms 6 and 7, andaL though a hand wheel 19, worm; 20 and seg- V any mentioned that the operation maybe effected mentfll is shown inFigureQ and it has been by rocking one or both-ofthe shafts 8, 9, it I will be obvious that the arms 6, 7 may them- 1 selves be linked-to'members to which amove ment is imparted for swinging the frame from one position to another. Y

. Having thus described I claim as new and desire Patent is t 1. A dofling motion for spinning, twisting my invention, what and like machines, comprising in comb-inav tion, a pair of interchangeable bobbln ralls,

a support for the same comprising a rocking frame pivotally mounted on theframework of the machine, and mechanism for swinging to secure by Letters p said frame into positions required during the transfer and dofiing operations.

I 2. A dotting motion for spinning, twisting and like machines comprising in combination, a pair of interchangeable bobbm rails, asupno I porting frame for said rails consisting ofarms pivotally mounted upon the framework 7 i of the machine, and a substantially horizontal platform secured to said arms, and mechanism for swinging one of said arms about its pivotal axls. r t

3. A dofling motlon for spinning, twisting -and like machines, comprising in combination, a pair of interchangeable bobbin rails,

, a supportfor saidrails consisting of a substantially horizontal platform, a plurality of pairs of, arms carrying said platform and pivoted. to the framework of the machine" about axes below said platform, and mechanlsm for swinging one of said arms about its pivotal axis and thereby moving said platform along the arc of a circle having tion, a pair of interchangeable bobbin rails, a support for same consisting of a rocking frame pivotally mounted on the framework of the machine, mechanism for swinging said frame between a forward dofling position and a rearward position, a plurality of fixed supports, and a plurality of countenweighted catches pivoted on said supports so asto retain a bobbin rail when the latter is carried into the rear position.

5. A spinning, twisting or like machine, comprising in combination a stationary framework, a set of flyers journalled therein, driving means for said fiyers, a rocking frame pivotally mounted on said framework, a pair of interchangeable bobbin rails supported on said frame, mechanism for rocking said frame for carrying said rails between the dofiing and rear positions, lifter brackets for raising said rails into the spinning position, and a builder motion for reciprocating either of said rails and the bobbins carried thereby during the spinning operation.

6. A dofiing motion for spinning, twisting and like machines, comprising in combination, a pair of interchangeable bobbin rails,

a substantially horizontal platform for supporting same, forward and rearward rocking arms pivoted to the framework of the machine and carrying said platform, said forward rocking arms being shaped to tilt a bobbin rail from said platform when in the forward position, and mechanism for rocking one of said arms to swing said platform .in the arc of a circle between forward and rearward positions.

7 A dofling motion for spinning, twisting and like machines, comprising in combination, a pair of interchan eable bobbin rails, a substantially horizontah platform supporting same, swinging arms carrying said plat form and pivotally mounted upon the framework of the machine, mechanism for swinging one of said arms to move the platform between forward and rearward positions, and a cross beam located in position to be engaged by one of said arms in order to limit the orward motion of said platform.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe myname this 11th day of April, 1927.

JACK P. MACKIE 

